Fractional Freedom: A Smart Career Strategy for Financial Services Professionals

How fractional working unlocks lifestyle, leverage, and legacy for advisers—and the firms they serve

In a sector known for long hours, heavy regulation, and rigid structures, a quiet revolution is gathering pace. More financial professionals are ditching the “one desk, one firm” model and opting instead for fractional working—taking on part-time leadership roles across multiple businesses.

It’s a strategy that aligns perfectly with the Academy of Life Planning’s GAME Plan. It blends human capital and financial capital to support a life of balance, purpose, and sustainability.

So, could fractional working be your next move?

What Is Fractional Working?

Fractional working means delivering senior-level expertise to multiple firms—part-time, project-based, or on retainer. You might be a part-time COO in one firm, mentoring a founder in another, and streamlining compliance systems in a third.

It’s already commonplace in tech and media. But financial services are catching on.

The Rise of the Fractional Adviser

Until recently, the idea of a “fractional” financial planner or compliance director seemed unlikely. Yet, firms now face increasing complexity—digitisation, rising regulation, succession challenges—while still operating with lean teams and tight budgets.

Fractional professionals help these firms punch above their weight:

🚀 Growth firms get strategic firepower without the cost of a full-time C-suite
💼 Professionals gain variety, autonomy, and the chance to multiply their impact
🔄 Relationships are long-term and embedded—not just interim or consultancy gigs

As Amanda Newman Smith notes in Money Marketing, fractional leadership isn’t freelancing in disguise—it’s ownership without full-time constraints.

How It Aligns with the GAME Plan

The GAME Plan empowers individuals to align their life and work using four stages: Goals, Actions, Means, and Execution. Here’s how fractional working fits:

Goals: Design your work around your life—not the other way around. Work less, earn well, live fully.
Actions: Apply your strengths to multiple missions. More challenge. More contribution. More satisfaction.
Means: Diversify income streams, spread risk, and reduce dependency on a single employer or client.
Execution: Test-and-learn in real time. Fractional roles give you constant feedback, faster pivots, and renewed clarity.

A Wealth Strategy for Advisers and Firms

For advisers nearing retirement, fractional working provides a glide path: mentoring, coaching, or supporting younger firms—on your terms.

For new planners, it’s a powerful entry point: offer ops support, para-planning, or niche expertise in areas like pensions, ESG, or crypto.

For firms, it’s a smart alternative to full-time hires:

Need leadership but not every day? Hire part-time.
Want to explore a joint venture or exit plan? Get strategic input early.
Can’t afford £150k salaries? Access top talent for £1.5k per month.

Ready to Go Fractional?

Here’s how to get started:

Map your human capital: What do you offer beyond regulated advice? Think leadership, systems, mentoring, strategy.
Clarify your capacity: Could you commit 1–2 days a week to a firm without compromising lifestyle?
Craft your GAME Plan: Align your work mix with your desired life outcomes. Fractional is a means, not just a model.
Pilot a project: Offer a fixed-term value piece—like onboarding workflows, exit readiness, or pricing strategy.
Use your network: Explore opportunities within the AoLP community, LinkedIn, or platforms like the CFO Centre.

Final Thought

Fractional working isn’t just a career hack—it’s a life design tool. It’s how financial professionals can reclaim time, purpose, and profit while helping scale-ups and solo firms thrive.

As we shift from owning everything to accessing what we need, this model offers the best of both worlds: independence with influence.

The future of financial planning is flexible, values-led, and human-first. Fractional working gets us there—one meaningful role at a time.

🧭 Ready to design your best life through fractional working? Start your free GAME Plan at the Academy of Life Planning.